About a year ago, when I ditched SBC totally to go with Cable One for
my high speed internet service, and Prairie Stream Communications for
my reasonably priced, accurate and honest telephone service, the folks
at Southwestern Bell (SBC) started trying to get me back to them.
They reduced the prices just a wee bit, put together a new package
and offered it along with freebies including a VISA gift card and
other things. That correspondence from them has gone on more or less
weekly since I dropped them. Each week, the offer gets slightly better.
Now, as of October 30 (their latest mailing) the price for a full
package is *$12.95* per month for five months then an additional seven
months at $19.95. In addition to the usual assortment of goodies, they
now offered a free 30 minute prepaid phone card from some telco in
Mexico (TelMex I think) "if you would just call and give us ten
minutes of your time listening to us on the phone. We are certain you
will agree we are the best phone company anywhere, and we do want you
back as a customer. After you hear us out, we know you will want to
return back where you belong. In any event you will get a free 30
minute prepaid phone card."
So I thought today I would listen to what they had to say, with my
timer keeping track of the number of minutes. In the letter they sent
I was told to dial 1-866-331-8585 (or in Espanol 1-800-418-9612). I
called, no voice mail jail, no holding queue. A man answers very
politely and asks for my name, address and phone number which I give
him. He said 'just a minute while I pull up your records'. He then
leaves the line *for slightly over 8 minutes* leaving me on hold. When
he eventually came back on the line at about 9 minutes, 30 seconds, hw
said he was sorry but the computers were down, so he could not
discuss it right now. I told him that was fine, I had given him the
ten minutes they had requested couldI now please get my thirty minute
prepaid calling card? He assured me I would get the calling card
'in a few days in the mail'. We will see ... I surely hope he does
not try to slam my phone line.
PAT
TELECOM Digest Editor (ptownson@telecom-digest.org)